Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 10 Dollars 2015, KM# 614, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Jaqueline Kennedy
  • 10 Dollars 2015, KM# 614, United States of America (USA), First Spouse Program, Jaqueline Kennedy
Description

The Nation’s First Ladies are being honored on a series of one-half ounce 24 karat gold coins. The coins are considered numismatic items and have a nominal face value of $10. Typically, four different designs are released per year featuring the spouses of the Presidents in the order served. The First Spouse Gold Coins represent the first time that the United States Mint has featured women on a consecutive series of coins.

The program was authorized under Public Law 109-145 The Presidential $1 Coin Act. In addition to authorizing the Presidential Dollars series, which features the former Presidents in the order served, the law also provided for the issuance of gold coins featuring the President’s spouses.

For Presidents who served in office with a first and second wife, two gold coins are issued for the Presidency. For Presidents who served in office without a spouse, a depiction of Liberty is presented on the obverse of the coin for four instances, with Suffragist Alice Paul depicted for the final instance.

The obverse of each First Spouse coin features a portrait of the spouse being honored. The reverse design of each coin contains images emblematic of the spouse being honored. Some of the reverse designs so far have included memorable scenes from the spouse’s life, or images representative of their major contributions, themes, or accomplishments.

Obverse

Depicts a portrait of Jaqueline Kennedy. The inscriptions include “Jacqueline Kennedy”, the motto “In God We Trust”, “Liberty”, the order of the Presidency “35th”, the dates of the Presidential term "1961-1963", and the date and mintmark "W".

Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis (née Bouvier; 1929– 1994) was an American socialite, writer, photographer, and book editor who served as first lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. A popular first lady, she endeared the American public with her fashion sense, devotion to her family, and dedication to the historic preservation of the White House. During her lifetime, she was regarded as an international fashion icon.

After the assassination and funeral of her husband in 1963, Kennedy and her children largely withdrew from public view. In 1968, she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, which caused controversy. Following Onassis's death in 1975, she had a career as a book editor in New York City, first at Viking Press and then at Doubleday, and worked to restore her public image.

Design: Susan Gamble (SG)
Modelling: Phebe Hemphill (PH)

Jaqueline Kennedy
IN GOD
WE
TRUST
LIBERTY
2015
W
SG PH
35th 1961-1963

Reverse

Depicts the saucer magnolia that Mrs. Kennedy chose to have planted in the White House garden and near the eternal flame at her husband’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery. The petals are shown stretching across the globe, with its tips connecting the points of some of Mrs. Kennedy’s most notable diplomatic visits. The inscriptions include “United States of America”, the motto “E Pluribus Unum”, the denomination “$10”, the precious metal weight and purity of “1/2 oz. .9999 Fine Gold”.

Design: Benjamin Sowards (BS)
Modelling: Jim Licaretz (JL)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BS JL
• E PLURIBUS UNUM • $10 • 1/2 Oz. .9999 FINE GOLD •

Edge

10 Dollars

Bullion Coinage
KM# 614
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.999
Weight 15.554 g
Diameter 26.5 mm
Thickness 1.88 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
West Point Mint (W)

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